Australian press reacts to George Burgess’ retirement and give verdict on Wigan Warriors stint

Yesterday England international, South Sydney Rabbitohs hero and former Wigan Warriors man George Burgess announced his retirement due to injuries which started during his time at the DW Stadium.

Subsequently, the Australian press have reacted to his announcement and given their verdict on Burgess’ time at Wigan.

ZeroTackle said: “South Sydney Rabbitohs premiership-winner George Burgess has announced his immediate retirement from rugby league.

“The Englishman has hung up the boots despite turning just 30 years-old this season, an ill-fated stint with St. George Illawarra forcing Burgess to request an early release from his Dragons’ contract.

“The front-rower played 161 career games between his time at the Rabbitohs, Wigan Warriors and St. George Illawarra, a chronic hip injury cutting his career tragically short as twin brother Thomas still producing strong form for South Sydney.”

Meanwhile, Fox League like many others diagnosed the injury problems as starting at Wigan: “Premiership-winning forward George Burgess has retired from rugby league effective immediately.

“Throughout his career Burgess played 153 NRL games — 149 of them with the Rabbitohs where he won a premiership in 2014 alongside brothers Tom, Sam and Luke.

“After leaving the Bunnies in 2018, Burgess returned to the UK to play for Super League side the Wigan Warriors however a serious hip injury cut his time short there

“He signed a two-year deal with the Dragons but last month was released from the final year or his contract.”

The same could be said of the Canberra Times: George Burgess’ NRL career is over after the English prop announced his retirement from rugby league.

“Released by St George Illawarra last month after a drama-filled first year back in the NRL, Burgess confirmed on Sunday he would not return to the game.

“He has since developed into one of the game’s best front-rowers at the Rabbitohs, before exiting the club for Wigan in 2020.

“He suffered a career-threatening hip injury that restricted him to just eight games with the Wigan Warriors.

Channel Nine however looked to different factors such as off field problems: “George Burgess has announced his retirement from rugby league.

“The former premiership-winning Souths superstar confirmed the news in a post to his Instagram account on Sunday night.

“Burgess left Super League side Wigan in 2021.

“The 30-year-old then joined the Dragons at the start of the year, playing just four games with the side. By the end of the 2022 season he was coming off the bench for their NSW Cup feeder side.

“He was cut by the Dragons in October in a precursor to the end of his 10-year and 153-game NRL career.

“The 17-time England representative was earlier placed on a “leave of absence” to deal with personal issues. At the time the club denied the break had anything to do with the criminal matter the prop was facing.

“Burgess will face court in February next year after being charged with sexually touching another person without consent in March.”